It is obviously huge to have Gardner around for a fifth year in 2014, when Brady Hoke's OL recruiting will be emerging into upper-class years, Derrick Green is a sophomore, and Drake Harris is wearing the #1*. Getting a fifth year out of any starting QB is big time, especially one with as much upside as Gardner. Since he's pretty raw right now, he should use it unless he absolutely blows up in 2013—a problem I will take if it goes down like that.

Also a bonus is this presumably pushes the Morris/Speight/true freshman battle out to 2015, when Morris is (probably) a redshirt sophomore and Speight a redshirt freshman. Not starting a freshman QB is a nice thing.

*[Projection based on awesome dream. Also, Drake Harris is made of of mushroom marshmallows, the offensive line mutates into candybears, and Michigan beats East Magellanic Cloud for the Universe Title. Suck it, Bama.]

Man, he's grown up a ton since he got to campus, I'm really impressed. Hopefully that all shows on the field this fall and I think it will. Great to know he'll be leading us for two more years. I would not be surprised at all if he's getting Hiesman buzz or high draft talk before he leaves and I would not have said that after the spring game last year.

I feel like this is setting up for Football Armageddon version 2.0. Two undefeateds squaring off in Ohio Stadium. The only difference is this time it will likely result in a rematch the following week.

Last fall I tried to engage some of our visitors from the south to discuss the topic of how Gardner compares to Miller, and they would have none of it. I think, if they both stick around there are going to be lots of comparisons, and at least two big showdowns. Miller is Tebow for Meyer's system, but Gardner is just as fast and quite elusive, besides being a better passer. If BuckeyeJonRoss and Urbanwarfare are still hanging around the blog I would like them to sound off.

It would have to be one hell of a season for Gardner to go pro "early." It's pretty uncommon for QBs not to use up all their eligibility, and he would be going pro after just one full season of starting.

So glad he was granted the redshirt year. It doesn't get much better than that. There have been very sobering posts about the huge value of upper-class quarterbacks and the huge detriment of freshmen QB's. (If one of you wrote those posts, or know the link, please put it in.) Regardless, if all goes well, Morris gets a redshirt in 2013, can get his feet wet in 2014, and should be ready to start by 2015, with an experienced, matured OL, 3 Fall camps, 2 Spring camps, and a little PT under his belt. We also have the opportunity recruiting-wise to really be at a QB in every class by 2015, Magnus' preferred reality.